THE ORIGIN OF CORN 



43 



The Leading Corn States. The ten leading corn States 

 arranged according to rank are as follows : 



Ten Leading Corn Producing States. Average for 5 Years (1906-1910) 



The Origin of Corn. All cultivated plants have been developed 

 from some wild form. The .cultivated plants have been selected and 

 changed, so that in many cases they do not bear a close resemblance 

 to the original wild forms. Certain parts of the plant, however, are 

 apt to remain unchanged, so that botanists can determine its close 

 wild relatives. 



There are two wild semi-tropical plants similar to corn. These 

 are known as Gama grass (Tripsacum dactyloides) and teosinte 

 (Euchlcena Mexicana). Both are found growing in Mexico and 

 southern United States. The teosinte will cross with corn, which 

 indicates its close relationship (Fig. 16). Gama grass is more 

 slender than corn, but bears a tassel at the top, resembling a corn 

 tassel. The seeds are borne in the tassel, instead of an ear on the 

 stalk. The teosinte is much more like corn, and bears a kind of 

 branched ear. 



There is good evidence that corn was developed by evolution from 

 teosinte or a near relative, and that this origin probably occurred in 

 Central Mexico. From Mexico, it probably spread to South America 

 and North America. When Columbus came to America, corn was in 

 common cultivation throughout both' continents. Columbus and 

 other travelers after him carried corn to Europe, where it was called 

 maize and, later, Indian corn. 



